Montgomery County, MD Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Permitting Services
- Permit required for
- temporary right-of-way closures and repairs
- Closure time limit
- 15 days without a safe pedestrian path
- Penalty
- Class A violation, up to $500 civil fine
- Municipal exemption
- Rockville, Gaithersburg exempt on own roads
Summary
Montgomery County bans placing objects, fences, or structures in the public right-of-way without a permit; the Director of Permitting Services can authorize temporary sidewalk, curb, or driveway closures for construction and repair work.
Except as provided in Section 49-11, in the public right-of-way, a person must not: (a) place, maintain, use, permit, allow, or exercise control over, any object or structure; (b) perform any reconstruction or maintenance work; or (c) allow the erection or placement of any structure, fence, post, rock, or other object, except: (1) mailboxes mounted on a support that will bend or break away on impact by a vehicle...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 49-10 bars placing, maintaining, or allowing any object, fence, post, rock, or structure in the public right-of-way, with narrow exceptions for breakaway mailboxes, newspaper boxes, and permitted street trees. Section 49-11 lets the Director of Permitting Services issue a permit to reconstruct a sidewalk, install a temporary obstruction, or close a curb lane or sidepath. Closures lacking a safe alternative pedestrian path are capped at 15 days, or 6 months for sidewalk reconstruction, extendable only on an engineer's certification or a hardship showing. Rockville, Gaithersburg, and other municipalities are exempt on roads they own or maintain, but the rule still applies to any County-owned road inside their borders.
Violations & Fines
Violating the obstruction or permit rules is a Class A violation: up to $500 civil fine for a first offense, $750 for a repeat, or a $1,000 criminal fine and up to 6 months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a dumpster or fence on the sidewalk in Montgomery County?
How long can a sidewalk closure block pedestrians?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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